Seattle

Emergency declared in Washington to maintain fuel supply at Seattle airport

Washington state's governor declared an emergency on Wednesday to ensure enough jet fuel gets to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after a leak shut down a major fuel pipeline. The order temporarily waives and suspends state regulations limiting the number of hours commercial vehicle operators can drive when transporting jet fuel, Gov. Bob Ferguson's office said in a news release. The proclamation ensures safe-driving measures are in place, the release said. The Olympic Pipeline was shut down on Nov. 11 because of a leak north of Seattle, between the cities of Everett and Snohomish. Operators notified the state of the leak and were working with state and federal agencies to contain, clean and repair it, the governor's office said. There was no estimate for when the pipeline would resume delivering fuel normally. But if it doesn't start back up by Saturday, the governor's office said airport operations would be significantly affected." The office did not share details on what that

India AI summit curtain-raiser held in Seattle with focus on progress

With India set to host a crucial AI summit next year, a special curtain-raiser event focusing on the summit's three pillars, people, planet and progress, was organised in Seattle, covering themes such as AI in agri-tech and India's digital infrastructure. The pre-event curtain-raiser was hosted by the Consulate General of India in Seattle on Friday. It focused on the three pillars of India's AI Impact Summit: People, Planet and Progress, the Consulate said in a press release. The roundtable featured expert presentations by leading tech CEOs from the Greater Seattle area and covered themes like the use of AI in agri-tech and the potential of data centres and digital infrastructure in India. Participants also briefed US Congressman and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith and Congressman and Member of the House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs Committees Michael Baumgartner about India's progress in AI. They highlighted the Seven Chakras' or themes for global

In a first, Indian tricolour hoisted atop Seattle's iconic Space Needle

The Indian tricolour was hoisted at Seattle's iconic 605-feet-tall Space Needle on India's 79th Independence Day, the first time that a foreign nation's flag was raised at the popular American destination. Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta along with Mayor of Seattle Bruce Harrell and other select dignitaries from the Seattle city leadership, joined the historic and landmark occasion. "No greater honour than this ! Raising the Tiranga on top of Seattle skyline at Space Needle," Gupta said in a post on X, along with a video of the tricolour flying high atop the iconic Seattle monument with sprawling views of the city below. Calling the commemoration a "historic first in Seattle", the Consulate General of India in Seattle said the celebration underscored the contributions of the Indian-American diaspora in shaping the city's journey as a tech hub in the US Pacific Northwest. Later, a community reception was hosted by the Consulate at the scenic Kerry Park, with India's

Thieves grab $2 mn in jewellery in Seattle heist that took under 2 minutes

Smash-and-grab thieves in Seattle made off with an estimated USD 2 million in diamonds, luxury watches, gold and other items in a daring midday jewelry store robbery that took just about 90 seconds, police said Friday. Video from the West Seattle store's surveillance cameras shows four masked suspects shattering the locked glass front door with hammers and then ransacking six display cases Thursday. One display held around USD 750,000 worth in Rolex watches, police said in a statement, and another had an emerald necklace valued at USD 125,000. A masked suspect threatened workers with bear spray and a Taser, police said, but no one was injured. We're pretty shook up as a staff, Josh Menashe, vice president of the family-owned store, said by phone Friday. We're gonna be closed for a while. Menashe said workers finished cleaning up the broken glass and were working on a full inventory of the losses. Police said they responded to the robbery but the suspects had already fled in a get

Amazon orders workers to relocate to Seattle, other hubs stirring concerns

Amazon has satellite workplaces around the country, including major metropolitan areas like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Dallas and Austin, giving workers some flexibility about where they lived

Indian Consulate in Seattle faces protest over alleged visa denial

The Consulate General of India in Seattle said it had to deal with a law and order situation when certain individuals entered its premises unauthorised and engaged in aggressive and threatening behaviour with the Consulate staff over alleged denial of visa to one of them. Today, the Consulate was forced to deal with a law and order situation arising from the unauthorised entry by certain individuals into the Consulate premises after office hours, the Consulate said in a post on X Friday. It added that despite repeated requests, these individuals refused to leave the Consulate premises and engaged in aggressive and threatening behaviour with the Consulate staff. The Consulate said it was compelled to call in relevant local authorities to deal with the situation. Further action is being initiated against the trespassers. One of the individuals the Consulate referred to is former Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant, who said in a post on X that she was in the Consulate with her

Seattle consulate hosts forum to highlight India investment opportunities

A business forum organised in Seattle highlighted investment opportunities in India from the US Pacific Northwest in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, agri-tech, healthcare, higher education and tourism and showcased items for possible exports from India into the Greater Seattle area. The first 'Invest India Business Forum' (IIBF) was organised Monday by the Consulate General of India in Seattle in partnership with Greater Seattle Partners and The Northwest Seaport Alliance at the Bell Harbour International Conference Centre. The business forum aimed to attract investments from the Pacific Northwest into key sectors, particularly in high-end technologies like AI, which is anticipated to contribute USD 500 billion to India's economy by 2025, a press release issued by the Indian Consulate in Seattle said. Presentations made during IIBF underscored Government of India's commitment to developing key sectors, its skilled workforce, digital infrastructure, and related GOI policies.

US can keep using Seattle airport for deportation flights: Appeals court

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement can continue using a Seattle airport for chartered deportation flights, a federal appeals court ruled in a decision that rejected a 2019 local order that sought to counter then-President Donald Trump's immigration policies. The agency has long used airports around the country to charter flights deporting hundreds of thousands of noncitizens considered lawfully removable from the US. But in 2019, in keeping with efforts in liberal Seattle and Washington state to resist Trump's priorities, King County Executive Dow Constantine issued an executive order expressing concern that the deportations could constitute human rights abuses. It announced that future leases at the county airport, also known as Boeing Field, would bar operators from servicing deportation flights. The order prompted ICE to begin using an airport in Yakima a much farther drive from ICE's Northwest detention center in Tacoma for the deportation flights. The US sued King County

Boeing employees hold rally in Seattle as strike enters second month

Investors and regulators have had Boeing under the microscope since a door panel flew off a near-new 737 MAX jet in midair in January

Boeing labour deal angers many union workers ahead of vote, says official

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which represents more than 32,000 workers in the US Pacific Northwest, announced the deal along with Boeing on Sunday

Apparent cyberattack leaves Seattle airport facing internet outages

An apparent cyberattack disrupted internet, phones, email and other systems at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for a third day on Monday as Port of Seattle officials worked to investigate the outages and restore full service. We're working around the clock to get necessary systems back online and to mitigate impacts to our passengers, the airport's aviation managing director Lance Lyttle said in a press conference Sunday. Lyttle said the airport is investigating with the help of outside experts and is working closely with federal partners, including the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection. Officials have not released details about the full scope of the outage, but Lyttle said it was not affecting TSA's ability to screen passengers. Some airlines, including Delta and Alaska Airlines, reported no service interruptions from the outage. Both of the airlines use Sea-Tac as a hub. Still, the outage did affect the Port of Seattle's baggage sorting

Starbucks' CEO Brian Niccol to commute 1,600 km to work via corporate jet

Brian Niccol's employment contract provides a corporate jet for his daily 1,600 km commute, requiring him to work from Starbucks' Seattle office at least three days a week

India a global leader in breakthrough innovations: Bill Gates on I-Day

India is a global leader with breakthrough innovations, American businessman and Microsoft founder Bill Gates has said as he joined Indian Americans to celebrate the first ever India Independence Day celebrations of the newly-opened Indian Consulate in Seattle. Bill Gates, chairman of the Gates Foundation, flagged off the first India Day celebrations in the Greater Seattle area as Consulate General of India as Seattle's Guest of Honor, on India's 78th Independence Day, a media release said. Addressing the nearly 2,000 plus members of the Indian American community, he referred to India as a global leader with breakthrough innovations in areas like technology, agriculture and healthcare. Gates further said, From manufacturing safe low-cost vaccines to the remarkable leadership shown by the Indian diaspora to India's Digital Public Infrastructure India's ingenuity is helping not just Indians, but the whole world. Countries across the Global South are leveraging India's experience to .

New Starbucks CEO to make over $100 mn in 1st yr, not required to relocate

Incoming Starbucks CEO could make well in excess of $100 million in his first year with the company under an incentive-laden contract, and he will not be required to relocate from his home in California to Seattle, the home of the global coffee giant. Starbucks announced on Tuesday that Brian Niccol would become its chairman and CEO, taking over from Laxman Narasimhan, who stepped down abruptly after spending a little more than a year as the company's top executive. Niccol will become Starbucks' chairman and CEO on Sept 9. Niccol is among the mostly highly sought after corporate executives after establishing a track record of success in turning around companies that have hit a rough patch, including Taco Bell and, most recently, Chipotle. Niccol took the top job at the California chain in 2018 when Chipotle was being roiled by a series of foodborne illness outbreaks that had sickened more than 1,000 of its customers over several years. Revenue at Chipotle has nearly doubled since h

New Starbucks CEO Niccol to work 1,000 miles from company's headquarters

The incoming CEO agreed to commute to the coffee chain's base and travel as needed to do his job

Indian consulate in Seattle inaugurates new visa application centre

The Indian Consulate in Seattle has inaugurated its new visa application centre which will offer full visa and passport services to applicants preparing for travel to India from the greater Seattle area. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, who attended the Friday event alongside Port Commissioner Sam Cho and State Rep. Vandana Slatter, presented the first Indian passport and visa to eager applicants, marking a special moment for the community. Mayor Harrell expressed admiration for the Indian community in Seattle, praising their contributions to enriching the bonds between India and the USA. Prakash Gupta, Consul General of India in Seattle, said: The opening of the Indian consulate in Seattle reflects the Indian government's commitment to deepening relations with the Pacific Northwest states. In addition to the Seattle location, a drop-off facility is now open at Bellevue, making it easier for Eastsiders to access these services. These centres will streamline the visa process for Indian

Jaahnavi Kandula's death: US cop who killed Indian girl to escape charges

King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said that she believes they lack the evidence to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt

Thousands of Starbucks workers expected to go on a one-day strike

Thousands of workers at more than 200 U.S. Starbucks stores plan to walk off the job Thursday in what organizers say is the largest strike yet in the two-year-old effort to unionize the company's stores. The Workers United union chose Starbucks' annual Red Cup Day to stage the walkout since it's usually one of the busiest days of the year. Starbucks expects to give away thousands of reusable cups Thursday to customers who order holiday drinks. The union said it was expecting more than 5,000 workers to take part in its Red Cup Rebellion. Around 30 stores also staged walkouts on Wednesday. Neha Cremin, a Starbucks barista in Oklahoma City, said she was striking to protest understaffing in stores, especially during promotions like Red Cup Day. Cremin said workers are already overwhelmed filling delivery orders, drive-thru orders, mobile orders and in-store orders; promotions add another layer of stress. Understaffing hurts workers and also creates an unpleasant experience for customer

Amazon's expansion into logistics services could unlock $100 bn in revenue

Analysts see the strategy echoing what the firm achieved with its cloud business, when it built Amazon Web Services to serve its own needs before opening the platform to third-party merchants

3 dead, 6 injured in shooting at hookah lounge in Seattle: Officials

Three people are dead and six others wounded after a shooting Sunday at a hookah lounge in south Seattle, authorities said. City police didn't immediately release any information about a possible suspect or suspects in the Sunday's early morning shooting in the Mount Baker neighborhood. Officers responded to the scene around 4:30 a.m. Sunday after receiving multiple 911 calls, police said. Upon arrival, officers reported finding two men and a woman with gunshot wounds. The two men died at the scene while the woman later died from her injuries at a hospital, police said. The names and ages of the victims weren't immediately released. Of the six people wounded, one was in critical condition and the other five were in satisfactory condition, police said. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said in a statement that even as Seattle police keeps up a rapid and record pace of recovering guns 869 through July there are still more illegal guns in the wrong hands that could be used to incite ano